Buen Pastor Cathedral Tours

The neo-Gothic cathedral of Buen Pastor (the Good Shepherd) was completed in 1897 at a time when San Sebastian was flourishing as an aristocratic seaside resort; it was promoted to cathedral in 1953. Buen Pastor is the largest religious construction in the city, made of sandstone harvested from Monte Igueldo and with a tapering spire that serves as a local landmark.

The vast church was designed by Basque architect Manuel de Echave along elegant, slender Gothic lines; its needle-like spire is the tallest in the Basque country at 246 feet (75 meters). Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida created the ‘Cross of Peace’ that adorns the main façade.

Based on the Latin cross, the cathedral has three naves and the interior is awash with light flooding in through the stained-glass windows by Juan Bautista Lázaro; vast chandeliers hang down from the vaulted roof and rose windows illuminate both ends of the transept. The organ was installed in 1954 and has more than 9,000 pipes, making it one of the largest in Europe.

Practical Info

The cathedral is on Plaza del Buen Pastor, and it is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. Admission is free.

Enjoy a flexible itinerary and personalized attention on this private tour of San Sebastian and the Basque coast. Departing from Bilbao with a private guide, you and your private party will explore San Sebastian to taste some traditional pintxo (tapas), stroll on the beach, and explore the quaint city center. Along the Basque coast, make stops in Zumaia as well as in Getaria for a seafood lunch.

Discover San Sebastian, the 2016 European Capital of Culture, on a private 4-hour walking tour tailor-made for you. Stroll along Concha Beach; visit landmarks such as San Sebastian Cathedral and María Cristina Bridge; and enjoy views along Spain’s Basque Coast.

San Sebastian is home to some of the best beaches of Spain’s Basque Country, but visiting on a group tour often means limited time for sightseeing and sunbathing. This private full-day tour from Bilbao offers plenty of time to explore the city or hit the beach, with private transport, a private guide, and an itinerary tailored to your preferences. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

The city’s unique location, rich history – particularly as the royal summer resort of Europe’s elite during the Belle Epoque, its international reputation as a food mecca and unique combination of seaside and metropolitan appeal, and, last but not least the superb quality of life in the city help to make it one of the happiest in the world. And one we love to share with guests and visitors by taking them on fabulous walking tours. Join us on one (or more) of our Donostia / San Sebastian tours, and experience it all – adventure, history, amazing food, local color, exercise, and fun! Enjoy!